Research Methodology and Decision Making

The given assignment is about designing a questionnaire for students' reviews and suggestions, interpreting data through graphs and charts, drawing a network diagram, and using financial tools to explain possible results from the research. It covers various references from books and journals, as well as online resources, providing a detailed understanding of research methodology and decision making in business.

BUSINESS DECISION
MAKING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Data collection plan from different sources..........................................................................1
1.2 Research methodologies used under this research................................................................2
1.3 Designing of questionnaire...................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Data interpretation from the collected information...............................................................6
2.2 Results analysis...................................................................................................................10
2.3 Calculation of different ranges............................................................................................10
2.4 Benefits of quartile, percentile and correlation coefficient.................................................11
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................12
3.1 Data representation by using charts and graphs..................................................................12
...................................................................................................................................................19
3.2 Trend line ...........................................................................................................................19
3.3 Covered PPT.......................................................................................................................20
3.4 A formal report....................................................................................................................20
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................21
4.1 Process tools used in project designing...............................................................................21
4.2 Network diagram.................................................................................................................22
4.3 Investment tools used by the company...............................................................................22
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................24

INTRODUCTION
Business decision-making is one of the crucial part of any business concern by which
they are able to make valuable decision regarding their day-to-day operations. It is said to be
most important part of any business those are associate with implementing appropriate strategies
so that management will attain its objectives (Barlett, 2016). It has been always found that every
decision-making leads to positive and negative impact on the growth and development of the
company. Under this project report a research is conducted regarding students experiences and
their satisfaction about UKCBC college. The project begun with a data collection plan by using
primary and secondary sources by applying research methodologies. Under this research
questionnaire are being designed in order to know students responses. The other part of the task
discuss about necessary calculation of arithmetic mean, median and mode. The results are being
presented through various charts and graphs. At last different tools are used to make financial
decision and a network diagram is being drawn to find out critical path. All the research are
conducted with the objective to make positive outcome from the students.
TASK 1
1.1 Data collection plan from different sources
In order to make the project more effective a proper data collection plan is being deigned.
It will help to make a research more accurate and in right direction so that goal are achieve in set
time duration. It also help to influence students responses about their experience and satisfaction
from their UKCBC college (Craft, Ford and Richardson, 2013). It comprises of various questions
that are being answered by the students and also test the impact of research and find out best
possible results from this research. The sources of data is being collected from interviews, filing
questionnaires, phone calls and personal observation from selected group of respondents.
Location from which the research is carried out in different campuses of UKCBC college:
 Crickle wood campus
 Lord house campus
 Holborn campus
 Oxford street campus
The main location which is taken fro this research are from above mentioned colleges and
it will take more than 5 weeks time duration to conduct proper research work. It will be helpful
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in achieving more accurate results and students feedback during the research (Frey, Schulz-Hardt
and Stahlberg, 2013).
For any research the most important part is fund that is use during this research process.
Because without capital not any research work is possible. So regarding this research 2500
pound to 5500 pounds will be required. These cost which are use in selecting skilled people
those are going to different campuses from research. So that proper estimation of cost is being
calculated before organising any research.
Under this project various methods of information collection that includes questionnaire
and interviews that are related with research and related records are being prepared. Number of
questionnaire is filled by selected group of students in order to get positive response from them.
Sampling is done by using different means that are used in most of the campuses of UKCBC
college. A sample size of 60 is being used under this research that are done from students and
other staffs members of that college (García-Peñalvo and Conde, 2014).
The data collection methods used is qualitative because personal interviews are done
from selected number of groups those are being associated with research and from them
questionnaire are filled.
The most important part of the research is that primary sources are used on priority
because the information collected from the students are fresh and it first time collected. The
chance of biasses is very less and most accurate results are produce. But to evaluate the data
more accurate secondary source are use in order to compare it from past records.
1.2 Research methodologies used under this research
As it has been observed that research is the journey to get some new information form
any a kind of situation. It arises the curiosity of the researcher to find something that is not
known to them. To complete their survey they required a set of proper methodologies to
investigate basics features and quality of that particular objects or any other things. It can be
done through evaluation of question and statistical data those are suppose to become big assets
for the country as well as from individual prospective (Gigerenzer and Gaissmaier, 2011). It
consist of hypothetical and practical knowledge from the study. The types of research are:
 Qualitative research: To analyse the in depth study from that particular research are
collected from students those are based on various facts and figures. From which quality
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of research is being so that most appropriate decision should be taken regarding any
change to UKCBC college.
 Descriptive research: It is used to depict the respondent in most accurate manner. There
are mainly three ways to collect information like observation, case study and in-depth
study of an individual or a selected group (Groebner and et. al., 2011).
In this project two main research techniques used as: Interviews in following ways that
are explained below: Interview which is said to be that ways in which people interact with each
other in order to known their background and personal knowledge about the college. It is of two
types: Face to face interviews that are done directly communicating with students in-front. And
other is focused groups it means from number of students various groups are being divided in
order to get their common reactions.
2nd Questionnaire which is summarised with multiple choice option that are available to
the respondents. It can either be directly or indirectly.
There are several methods of sampling is being used under this research work. Some of the are as
follows:
 Cluster sampling: Under this sampling framework a small group of people are divided
into various groups from different number of respondents.
 Simple random sampling: In this sampling methods each units and or groups have equal
possibilities to being selected.
 Quota sampling: It is collected in order to make representative values from chosen
groups. It is said to be opposite of random sampling.
 Stratified sampling: Under this sampling a population is divided into a smaller groups
that is based on probability (Laudon and et. al., 2012).
 Systematic sampling: It is said to be that methods which are selected from large part of
groups those are based on starting phase and a set measure of time duration.
There are various methods of sampling framework and from which random sampling
and quota are used under this research work because they are said to be the most appropriate
sampling tools which will provide most appropriate results.
1.3 Designing of questionnaire
A questionnaire is a set of various questions those are having multiple choice option to
answer with their own choice. It is required to be filled with the objectives to reach out to
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definite outcome from the overall study. It is design in order to get information that what they
think about the college in their own perception (Maxwell Jeffrey and Lévesque, 2011). There are
various types of designing questionnaire like open ended and close ended. In spite of that some
of them are:
 Ordinal – polytomus, it is said to be that types in which options are available in order or
sequence.
 Nominal – polytomus: Under this type of questions there are more than two option are
available with the respondents.
 Dichotomous: In this types of questions there are only tow options available with the
respondents.
The objective of research questionnaire is to know about different students and other faculties
experience and their satisfaction about UKCBC college.
Questionnaire
Q1. In which campus of UKCBC college to do studying?
a) Royal park campus
b) Holborn campus
c) Crickle Wood
d) Oxford street
Q2. Which age category you belongs ?
a) 19 or younger
b) 20-25
c) 25-30
d) 30-40
e) 40-50
Q3. From below mentioned courses available in your college ?
a) AAT
b) HNCSD
c) HNHSC
d) HNDB
e) HNTTM
4

Q4. Is teaching quality of UKCBC college are ?
a) Most satisfied
b) Satisfied
c) Not satisfied
Q5. Learning material provided by college are ?
a) Satisfied
b) Good
c) Average
Q6. Does the procedure of admission are simple?
a) Yes
b) No
Q7. Response toward other faculties and outside students are ?
a) Good
b) Average
c) Below Average
Q8. Is the personality is be groom after completion of their course are ?
a) Enough
b) Not enough
Q9. Do you agree with the skills and learning provided by the college?
a) Highly Agree
b) Agree
c) Disagree
Q10. How much your are satisfied with UKCBC college ?
a) Highly satisfied
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b) satisfied
c) Dissatisfied
Q11. Provide any feedback and suggestion. If any?
Ans:....................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................
TASK 2
2.1 Data interpretation from the collected information
Q1. In which campus of UKCBC college to do studying?
a) Royal park campus
b) Holborn campus
c) Crickle Wood
d) Oxford street
Particulars Respondents
Royal park Campus 21
Holborn campus 11
Oxford Street campus 10
CrickleWood 18
Mean 15
Median 14.5
Mode 3
Q2. Which age category you belongs ?
a) 19 or younger
b) 20-25
c) 25-30
d) 30-40
e) 40-50
6

Particulars Respondents
19 or younger 15
20-25 19
25-30 13
30-40 8
40-50 5
Mean 12
Median 13
Mode 0
Q3. From below mentioned courses available in your college ?
a) AAT
b) HNCSD
c) HNHSC
d) HNDB
e) HNTTM
Particulars Respondents
AAT 13
HNCSD 12
HNHSC 12
HNDB 9
HNTTM 14
Mean 12
Median 12
Mode 13
Q4. Is teaching quality of UKCBC college are ?
a) Most satisfied
b) Satisfied
c) Not satisfied
7

Particulars Respondents
Most satisfied 27
Satisfied 21
Not satisfied 12
Mean 20
Median 21
Mode 3
Q5. Learning material provided by college are ?
a) Satisfied
b) Good
c) Average
Particulars Respondents
Satisfied 34
Good 16
Average 1
Mean 17
Median 16
Mode 0
Q6. Does the procedure of admission are simple?
a) Yes
b) No
Particulars Respondents
Yes 43
No 17
Mean 30
Median 30
8

Mode 9
Q7. Response toward other faculties and outside students are ?
a) Good
b) Average
c) Below Average
Particulars Respondents
Good 34
Average 14
Below average 12
Mean 20
Median 14
Mode 10
Q8. Is the personality is be groom after completion of their course are ?
a) Enough
b) Not enough
Particulars Respondents
Enough 42
Not enough 18
Mean 30
Median 30
Mode 6
Q9. Do you agree with the skills and learning provided by the college?
a) Highly Agree
b) Agree
c) Disagree
9

Particulars Respondents
Highly agree 34
Agree 16
Disagree 10
Mean 20
Median 16
Mode 4
Q10. How much your are satisfied with UKCBC college ?
a) Highly satisfied
b) satisfied
c) Dissatisfied
Particulars Respondents
Most satisfied 28
Satisfied 22
dis- satisfied 10
Mean 20
Median 22
Mode 8
2.2 Results analysis
From above mentioned data evaluation it has been found that the questions those are
being asked from number of students of various campuses of UKCBC colleges. On the basis of
those data interpretation is done. In order to get most appropriate results from those students that
are satisfied with the colleges. After analysis researcher have drawn a valid conclusion that
performance of the college are highly satisfied in other students and present students those are
current;y studied over there (Pettigrew, 2014). To measure the intensity of the results that are
generated from calculation of mean, median and mode from the data are helpful in analysing
different changes in the results. Because from every questions the results are varies continuously.
10

The results are more accurate to make solid answer to those particular questions. The
research has its own limitation because of only 60 respondent are selected in order to make
research. It is used to measure the impact of answers those are provided by the students. By
using those information it can be identified that out of 60 very less number of students are in
support of college and level of satisfaction is more and it is increasing continuously every year.
It means that facilities and study material provided to them are more used in developing the carry
of the students (Provost and Fawcett, 2013). The personality and other skills of the students are
develop in such a way that they can excited to learning more new things from that college.
Students problems and query are solved by the college staffs. The mean value of various
questions are fluctuating with the answers and median is the total middle outcome is from all
those collected information.
2.3 Calculation of different ranges
Weeks Number of students Satisfied students
1st 12 10
2nd 10 8
3rd 16 12
4th 12 9
5th 10 8
Total 60 47
RANGE
MINIMUM
RANGE 8
MAXIMUM
RANGE 12
CORELATI
ON
COEFFICE
NT
0.9759000729
STANDAR 1.6733200531
11

D
DEVIATIO
N
Range: It is said to be that things those are use in common manner. It is the difference between
maximum and minimum values. Such as in above mentioned data it has been seen that the
maximum range is 12 from those satisfied students and minimum range of student are 8. these
fluctuation is being seen because of research collected from only 5 week time. It is very
favourable to the researchers as they have only limited time as well as resources to conduct the
research (Solomon, 2014).
Standard deviation: It is known as the measurement of dispersion from the pattern of data
collected from various respondents. It is generally used to calculate risk those are associated
during the research. In the above mentioned information the standard deviation which is 1.67 it
means that the chance of risk is very less. But the overall results are positive from the research
conducted.
Measure of dispersion: It is said to be those distribution which are done in order to make best
possible outcomes. The most important part of measurement of dispersions is said calculated
from statistical dispersions. There are various variances those are related with standard deviation
and other quartile ranges. There are two types of dispersion which are use are:
Absolute: It is use as appropriate thought about the total of dispersions that are related with a
complete pattern of observation. It is used as those original form of data which is already present.
Relative: It is said to be ratios of numerator and denominator those are having similar units.
2.4 Benefits of quartile, percentile and correlation coefficient
Quartiles are defined as to divide the data into four parts (Tzeng and Huang 2011). The
first quartile is inserted between the smallest value and medium, the second quartile is inserted
on the medium and the last quartile is inserted between the medium and highest value. The
purpose to draw the quartile ranges is that this data can be easily identify the various groups and
generate the data sheet. Sometime this is not signal because all the values of dataset are not
considering. This is a part of dispersion measurement. Company has use this data for a
accomplishing their targets and objectives.
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Percentile: Percentile are defined as to divide the data into percentile basis. For example,
the 10 percentile which means lowest of 10% in data sheet etc. This type of dispersion is also
helpful for business organisation. Business owners are easily measure their performance with
the help f this data. This data also represent that the achievement of performance level. They
represent the percentages value below the standard value (Vercellis, 2011). When calculate the
percentiles, firstly arrange all data in ascending order mathematically it computed as follows:
i=(p/100)n. These type of data are mainly used in colleges and universities. They examine the
test scores of their children with the help of using this data.
Correlation Coefficient: This defines as to calculate the correlation of two variables. It
also show the strength between two and more variables. This is also part of dispersion
measurement. It is very essential to build different models. This is helpful for business
organisation that they forecast their sales activities. Sales forecasting is an important for very
business enterprises. It is denote as 'r'. Their range between -1 to 1. they both make the business
decisions effectively and efficiently. Business has using this data for their decision making part.
TASK 3
3.1 Data representation by using charts and graphs
Q1. In which campus of UKCBC college to do studying?
Royal park Campus Holborn campus Oxford Street campus CrickleWood
0
5
10
15
20
25
21
11 10
18
Respondents
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From above chart is has been clearly seen that maximum number of students are studied
in Royal park campus that's why most number of students are satisfied from that particular
colleges.
Q2. Which age category you belongs ?
15
19
13
8
5
19 or younger
20-25
25-30
30-40
40-50
From above pie-charts it has been found that maximum number of students are belong to
25-25 years of ages groups.
Q3. From below mentioned courses available in your college ?
14

AAT HNCSD HNHSC HNDB HNTTM
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
13
12 12
9
14
Respondents
The highest number of courses are taught in UKCBC college are HNTTM which is said
to be 14 that is highest from other courses.
Q4. Is teaching quality of UKCBC college are ?
27
21
12
Most satisfied
Satisfied
Not satisfied
The teaching quality of the faculties are more favourable as most number of students are
satisfied according to this pie chart.
15

Q5. Learning material provided by college are?
Satisfied Good Average
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
34
16
1
Respondents
With the learning material provided by the college are good enough for the students as
they are highly satisfied with the number of 34 of respondents are satisfied.
Q6. Does the procedure of admission are simple?
43
17
Yes
No
16

According to this graphs most number of people are satisfied as 43 respondents are in
favour of the college.
Q7. Response toward other faculties and outside students are ?
Good Average Below average
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
34
14
12
Respondents
As per this graphs 34 students thinks that their response toward faculties are favourable.
Q8. Is the personality is be groom after completion of their course are ?
17

42
18
Enough
Not enough
With this pie-charts 42 students are in support that their personalities is grooming after
completion of their courses.
Q9. Do you agree with the skills and learning provided by the college?
Highly agree Agree Disagree
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
34
16
10
Respondents
More than 34 students thinks that their learning skills and other development are done in
most appropriate manner.
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Q10. How much your are satisfied with UKCBC college ?
Most satisfied Satisfied dis- satisfied
0
5
10
15
20
25
30 28
22
10
Respondents
From this graphs most number of students are satisfied with the performance of UKCBC
college.28 number of respondents are in support of this
3.2 Trend line
19

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
12 10
16
12 10
60
10 8
12 9 8
47
Number of students
Linear (Number of students)
Satisfied students
Linear (Satisfied students)
Trend line is such kind of graphs which are different from other those are indicate data as
various number of series that are represented with a line called as straight line segments those are
said to be markers. It refers to be that charts those are use by researchers under researcher
because of complete image through a line of positivity that are summarise under the research.
According to the graphs it has been shown that with total number of respondents as 60
out of just 47 are satisfied with the colleges and thing that they are providing positive responses
to them. With total research of 5 weeks most number of students are satisfied in 3rd week (Yager
and Kacprzyk, 2012). And in 2nd and 5th week of research the data results are very common as
they are very similar number of students satisfied during that particular time.
3.3 Covered PPT
3.4 A formal report
FORMAL REPORT
To QAA
1st August 2017
This venture report outline of different data about an examination that is directed in
various grounds of UKCBC school. It clarifies understudy satisfaction and encounters that they
are pick up from concern grounds. Significant information is being gathered from chosen
gatherings. Essentially, the majority of the gatherings are more co agent in giving significant
20

data in simple way however a few times it was observed to be more hard to get. Understudies
from each class with various fields some of them are from trade, science and ace degree
moreover. All data are gathered effectively in light of the fact that they are eager to give data
and their perspectives in well example. This shows sufficient methods for their aptitudes and
learning about their reaction. On assessment on the gathered information from different grounds
of UKCBC school those are arranged distinctive area like in other area where this school give
such sort of learning offices. The primary thought process of this exploration is to realize that
what understudies and resources are thinking about their school and what sort of experience
they are getting from finish of instruction. The fulfilment level of understudies are at higher
side since they are especially alright with the offices those are given by College. Under this
examination there are sure constraint to this exploration as they are having issue with running
class of the entirety understudies and a portion of the are business in their own particular work
and few of them are not intrigued to reply. After finish of research it has discovered that 65% of
understudies are happy with school and its offices, 25% are direct and rest 10% are not fulfilled
on the grounds that they are from outside states.
From above research extend it has been inferred that positive reactions are produced from such
a variety of understudies and employees that the greater part of them are very happy with school
execution and its offices those are being given by the school
TASK 4
4.1 Process tools used in project designing
Every organisation has create certain level of management that their decision making are
supported with the help of various software and computers.
Tactical level: In this level, all the managers make better decisions. The management
information system are come under this level (Zolfani and et. al., 2013). In this system, they
generate all data and information in term of report form that is provide to all mangers and
company professionals that helps for making decision process. This type of information are
provided in advance so it meet their need of tactical and operational level; of managers.
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Strategic level: In this level, Decision support system are covered. This system has provided
data and information that helps for managers in decision making process. They use some kind of
periodical models, analytical models. this help to analyze the company Data then it helps
manager to make decision effectively and efficiently. This type of data are used by all level of
people in organisational hierarchy. This process are supported to small and medium term of
businesses. They are used for mainly analytical type of work. This also known as hub of
information.
Operational level: In this level, the office automation system are covered. This system helps to
develop and imp[prove the employee productivity because they process the informational .For
example, With the help of Microsoft office XP, the employee get develop and improve their
productivity level. these are the integrated procedure which helped the decision making process
of all level of managers. the spread sheet are mainly used in graphs papers. in this level, to
develop the short and long term plans of organisation. They also focus the task that are perform
according to policies and procedures.
4.2 Network diagram
A diagram is said to be that relation among various groups which are related with
different task and activities. Network is formed with the help of different arrows, boxes those are
indicating directions through a connected chain of activities. In common terms some times it use
a flow charts because data are shown in flow manner with provided time duration.
From the above drawn diagram only three possible paths can be presented.:
PATH A: 1+2+5+6+8 = 15 Days
PATH B: 1+4+7+8 = 10 Days
PATH C: 1+2+3+7+8 = 17 Days
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The network diagram is presented by taking help of various information provided by the
UKCBC colleges and only three possible paths can be drawn from it. It is used to know about
which critical path can be selected in order to get more accurate results (Zsambok, 2014). From
above the best possible path is that which is taking very less time to complete a project. In given
situations A path A is taking minimum time to complete a particular task. Other path are more
time consuming from path A. so the best for the researchers is to select only path A because it
using only 10 days time.
4.3 Investment tools used by the company
YEARS Cash flow PV@10% PV PV@15% PV
0 -15000 1 -15000 1 -15000
1 8000 0.909 7272.72 0.87 6960
2 10000 0.826 8264.46 0.756 7560
3 5000 0.751 3756.57 0.658 3290
4 5000 0.683 3415.06 0.572 2860
Total PV 22708.831 20670
NPV 7708.831 5670
IRR 28.91%
From above mentioned data it has been seen that company with having initial investment
of 15000 for this particular project. The present value in 10% is 22708 and with 15% is comes to
be 20670. After evaluation the net present value of that amount is 7708 if they get a interest of
10% and 5670 of net values is get by company if they are getting it with 15% of rates. The IRR
of for those are 28.91% return (Descriptive Research. 2017.)
CONCLUSION
From above project report it has been concluded that business decision-making is the
useful aspect of any business concern by which they can make appropriate decision regarding
their operations. The report is entirely based on UKCBC college under which a complete
analysis is being done in order to know about student satisfaction with their colleges. That
whether they are able to provided provided learning to the students. Under this project a data
collection plan is being designed by taking support of primary source. A questionnaire is being
23

designed regarding students reviews and suggestions. On that basis various data interpretation is
being done by using graphs and charts. In support of this a network diagram is being drawn and
at last financial tools are being used to explain the possible results from the research.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Barlett, P.F. ed., 2016.Agricultural decision making: Anthropological contributions to rural
development. Academic Press.
Craft, J.L., 2013. A review of the empirical ethical decision-making literature: 2004–2011.
Journal of Business Ethics.117(2). pp.221-259.
Ford, R.C. and Richardson, W.D., 2013. Ethical decision making: A review of the empirical
literature. In Citation classics from the Journal of Business Ethics (pp. 19-44). Springer
Netherlands.
Frey, D., Schulz-Hardt, S. and Stahlberg, D., 2013. Information seeking among individuals and
groups and possible consequences for decision-making in business and politics.
Understanding group behavior.2. pp.211-225.
García-Peñalvo, F.J. and Conde, M.Á., 2014. Using informal learning for business decision
making and knowledge management. Journal of Business Research.67(5). pp.686-691.
Groebner, D.F and et. al., 2011. Business statistics: A decision making approach. Prentice
Hall/Pearson.
Laudon, K.C andet. al., 2012. Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm,
Seventh Canadian Edition (7th. Pearson.
Maxwell, A.L., Jeffrey, S.A. and Lévesque, M., 2011. Business angel early stage decision
making. Journal of Business Venturing.26(2). pp.212-225.
Pettigrew, A.M., 2014. The politics of organizational decision-making. Routledge.
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